How divorce affects your ex's Social Security benefits

August 13, 2016 1:02 PM

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Q: My ex-husband (we were married for 18 years) has remarried, as have I. If I were to apply for ex-spousal benefits will that diminish any payment of benefits to his current family? I would not apply if this is the case. If he has not applied to receive Social Security benefits (he’s 67 now) can I still apply for them? Do I need to be 65 or older to apply? I am 59. — Jane Ager, Midlothian, Va.

A: If you remarry, you generally cannot collect benefits on your former spouse's record unless your later marriage ends (whether by death, divorce or annulment), according to the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) website.